Preview R3: Changes vs. North Melbourne

[TBM]

Im only going off what people are saying. lol

Lets assume Dowling is in for Draper. Draper probably is in need of a full game. Im not sure anything is wrong with that to be honest. Back to back games as sub probably indicates they want to give him a full game. Its hard to argue that while Draper has had an impressive pre season, he probably hasnt commanded a spot yet.

Honestly couldn’t have done much more in his sub appearances TBH

Got a lot of the ball when he has come on and largely used it pretty well

I don’t have an issue with managing him through the season but this week would be a superb opportunity to give him a full game and see what he can do.

 

[Afcprophet]

Being strong favorites is unusual. The optimism feels dangerous.

 

[Captain Furious]

So what will that mean though - teams try to just get it forward and lock it in their forward line so our guys don't get a look in.

However that's something everyone tries to do anyway...

Mostly about evening up numbers around the contest rather than dropping back a guy - knowing now we'll lower eyes and hit a target if we have space rather than go long to the outnumber - which we've previously been guilty of. With an extra opposition number around the ball, we'll more likely be under pressure with ball in hand.

 

[baldandbroke]

Surely this is the perfect game for Draper to have a full home debut?

In front of the adoring fans, playing against a bottom half team full of young up-and-coming players.

I want to see us challenge this North midfield from the get-go.

Don’t go defensive and safe, attack attack attack.

 

[Cromulant]

Surely this is the perfect game for Draper to have a full home debut?

In front of the adoring fans, playing against a bottom half team full of young up-and-coming players.

I want to see us challenge this North midfield from the get-go.

Don’t go defensive and safe, attack attack attack.

Like we've done the last 2 weeks ??

 

[baldandbroke]

Like we've done the last 2 weeks ??

I’ve seen it too many times.

Being too clever by half. Trying to show how smart we are, how strategic we can be.

Just keep attacking.

Playing Draper in the middle shows no fear - no change to the mindset.

Let’s see how the game pans out, do we hold the line? Do we get nervous and fall back into an old pattern?

We have not been challenged yet, that’s when we will know of the club has changed its DNA or not.

 

[Cromulant]

I’ve seen it too many times.

Being too clever by half. Trying to show how smart we are, how strategic we can be.

Just keep attacking.

Playing Draper in the middle shows no fear - no change to the mindset.

Let’s see how the game pans out, do we hold the line? Do we get nervous and fall back into an old pattern?

We have not been challenged yet, that’s when we will know of the club has changed its DNA or not.

We've been notoriously poor against shit sides for years

What we have NEVER done is kick 46 goals in 2 weeks. We aren't the finished article by any means, but i don't think picking a 3rd gamer means "showing no fear"

 

[baldandbroke]

We've been notoriously poor against shit sides for years

What we have NEVER done is kick 46 goals in 2 weeks. We aren't the finished article by any means, but i don't think picking a 3rd gamer means "showing no fear"

He’s not just some 3rd gamer though is he.

He is a massive point of difference to our current mids.

Adding Draper to the mid rotation is a turning point for our club.

Too many times we have forced players to learn their trade in the 2nds out of FEAR that the big league would overwhelm them.

I think it does show something important. That we TRUST the players, that we have genuine belief. The opposite is all about fear lurking in the shadows.

 

[AFC979810]

I’ve seen it too many times.

Being too clever by half. Trying to show how smart we are, how strategic we can be.

Just keep attacking.

Playing Draper in the middle shows no fear - no change to the mindset.

Let’s see how the game pans out, do we hold the line? Do we get nervous and fall back into an old pattern?

We have not been challenged yet, that’s when we will know of the club has changed its DNA or not.

You haven't seen it at all under Nicks.

We have only won back to back games by 30+ points twice in the Nicks regime.

Rd 7 & Rd 8 - 2024. We beat the Kangas by 57 and Power by 30. We then came out and had a draw with the premiers.

Rd 3 & Rd 4 - 2023. We beat the Power by 31 and the Dockers by 32 before smashing the blues by 56 points (and winning the following week by 3points).

We are in completely uncharted territory with Nicks.

 

[hugecannon]

Hes not.

Murray is the one under a cloud

If Murray was under a cloud wouldn’t Butts be an emergency?

 

[Dangarman]

We've been notoriously poor against shit sides for years

What we have NEVER done is kick 46 goals in 2 weeks. We aren't the finished article by any means, but i don't think picking a 3rd gamer means "showing no fear"

Check out R19/20/21 from 2016.

22/27/21 goals for a combined 49 and 48. 70 goals in 3 weeks. Just need 26 goals on Sunday to match that effort!

R19 - Eddie 5, Charlie and McGovern 4 each (Tex didn't play!)
R20 - Eddie, Tex and Lynch 4 each
R21 - Eddie 6, Jenkins 5.

Still on the list from 2016 - Tex, Laird, Smith, ROB, Milera.
Still on an AFL list from that squad - Charlie Cameron and McGovern.

 

[AFC979810]

Check out R19/20/21 from 2016.

22/27/21 goals for a combined 49 and 48. 70 goals in 3 weeks. Just need 26 goals on Sunday to match that effort!

R19 - Eddie 5, Charlie and McGovern 4 each (Tex didn't play!)
R20 - Eddie, Tex and Lynch 4 each
R21 - Eddie 6, Jenkins 5.

Still on the list from 2016 - Tex, Laird, Smith, ROB, Milera.
Still on an AFL list from that squad - Charlie Cameron and McGovern.

You are missing Matt Crouch who is still on our list.

Rory Atkins is also still on an AFL list.

 

[Dangarman]

You are missing Matt Crouch who is still on our list.

Rory Atkins is also still on an AFL list.

Good spot.

Yes, I did note Crouch mentally but forgot to write it in the post.
Completely forgot about the RAt.

 

[radiojake]

Jake Lever would have been there then too

 

[Frank Thring]

North still conceded a lot of I50s (actually lost the count by 3) but Melbourne just can’t punish teams, has been their issue for a few years.

North are still average defensively and we are kicking a big score with 56 I50s like Melbourne had.

North are better, but these are games we should be comfortably winning. They also haven’t beaten us in Adelaide since 2003.

Fair comment but Melbourne's midfield is damn good but our pressure forced them to kick poorly into their forward line. The only way we can be competitive against your mob is to dominate the midfield because if we don't then it could get ugly with the options you have up forward. Having Logue and Archer out doesn't help us either.

 

[Coopers]

Mostly about evening up numbers around the contest rather than dropping back a guy - knowing now we'll lower eyes and hit a target if we have space rather than go long to the outnumber - which we've previously been guilty of. With an extra opposition number around the ball, we'll more likely be under pressure with ball in hand.

Fair enough, but then we can back our forwards in to win contests when they are not outnumbered, so maybe that will shift a bit too.

 

[baldandbroke]

You haven't seen it at all under Nicks.

We have only won back to back games by 30+ points twice in the Nicks regime.

Rd 7 & Rd 8 - 2024. We beat the Kangas by 57 and Power by 30. We then came out and had a draw with the premiers.

Rd 3 & Rd 4 - 2023. We beat the Power by 31 and the Dockers by 32 before smashing the blues by 56 points (and winning the following week by 3points).

We are in completely uncharted territory with Nicks.

I'm talking about the way we play - not the results.

I've seen us revert to "defensive" under Nicks plenty of times.

 

[AFC979810]

I'm talking about the way we play - not the results.

I've seen us revert to "defensive" under Nicks plenty of times.

Rd 1-4 in 2024.

First half against Collingwood in Rd 2 in 2022 after Freo dominated us in the first half of round 1.

When else?

 

[Vader]

We've been notoriously poor against shit sides for years

What we have NEVER done is kick 46 goals in 2 weeks. We aren't the finished article by any means, but i don't think picking a 3rd gamer means "showing no fear"

We've been notoriously poor against the mid-range teams (and surprisingly good against the top sides). Richmond 2024 aside, we've generally beaten up on the truly bad sides - most notably Norf & Weagles.

Also, we HAVE kicked 46 goals in 2 weeks - at least once. In R9 (vs Carlton) & R10 (vs Essendon) 2006 we kicked 18 & 30 goals, for a total of 48 goals in 2 weeks. The R10 game (vs Essendon) was Adelaide's highest ever score - 30.8 (188).

 

[Dangarman]

Jake Lever would have been there then too

Oh, for some reason I thought he had retired.

 

[SugarShane]

Murray out for 2-3 weeks, jarred knee

 

[119others]

You are missing Matt Crouch who is still on our list.

Rory Atkins is also still on an AFL list.

And Milera who was drafted 2015

 

[WheresGroomgone]

Some interesting inclusions this week - is it just a token reward for those players, notably Nankervis or is something up?

If Nicks drops Curtin to sub or SANFL he has fumbled badly.

Surely it’s time for Draper to get a full game.

 

[Cromulant]

No Muzz..... gee he cant get a real run at it.

 

[1990crow]

Murray out for 2-3 weeks, jarred knee

Just saw. Really shit timing.
Gold Coast and Cats games just got a little bit harder.